He is a 255 lb. tight end who broke many a tackle en route to scoring seven touchdowns for the Detroit Lions in his first NFL season, but it seems there is one thing guaranteed to take down Joseph Fauria - his adorable puppy, Lil Rufio.

Fauria, 24, was chasing his teeny tiny three-month-old Pomeranian/Husky mix around the house Wednesday night after the pup 'kind of did something bad,' and ended up spraining his left ankle in the process.

'It was kind of an agonizing pain,' is how he described the feeling that went through his body when he missed the last two steps on his staircase and slid on his hardwood floor.